VIRGINIA NEWSPAPERS ENDORSE JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT

The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, Danville Register & Bee And 19 Times Community Newspapers Endorse John McCain

"[C]onservatives can be perfectly sure that in ways basic to the definition of conservatism -- involving judicial nominees, the proper role of government, taxes, and national defense -- a McCain presidency would look strikingly different from one ordered by either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama." -- The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star

"McCain is a war hero, a distinguished conservative senator and a loyal Republican who stood by President Bush on the Iraq War. A year ago, McCain's support for the war was supposed to kill his candidacy. Today, it has underscored his loyalty -- and his military background." -- Danville Register & Bee

"Among the candidates of both parties, only Republican Sen. John McCain has demonstrated leadership qualities and a broad understanding of the issues. He has shown the vision to meet future challenges. McCain boasts a rare blend of courage and national experience, boldly fighting for more than two decades for needed change in the U.S. Senate." -- 19 Times Community Newspapers: Annandale Times, Burke Times, Centreville Times, Chantilly Times, Clarke Times-Courier, Culpeper Times, Fairfax Times, Fairfax Station Times, Fauquier Times-Democrat, Fauquier Weekend, Gainesville Times, Great Falls Times, Herndon Times, Loudoun Times-Mirror, McLean Times, Rappahannock News, Reston Times, Springfield Times, Vienna Times

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McCain

Editorial
The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star
February 8, 2008

Wasn't it just yesterday that the pundits were giving obsequies to Arizona Sen. John McCain's bid for the GOP presidential nomination? Well, today Republican and independent voters have made Mr. McCain the party's de facto nominee. After the commentariat recited his last rites, Americans in half the Union's states engaged in a more remarkable ceremony: raising the dead.

Thus, Virginians shouldn't consider it an academic exercise to cast a vote for the gritty and tenacious Mr. McCain on Tuesday. By doing so -- a course this newspaper recommends -- they can be part of an extraordinary history that is still unfolding.

For not only has Mr. McCain vanquished the Republican field -- a science-fiction writer would strain to devise a scenario in which either of the senator's two remaining rivals, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, could win the GOP nod -- but there is no reason to dismiss the idea that the Arizonan will complete his odds-defying comeback with a noontime oath on Jan. 20. As columnist David Broder notes, "McCain is the only candidate in either party with a favorable rating by Republicans, Democrats, independents, and evangelical voters."

With many conservatives, it's true, Mr. McCain fails the test of perfection. But conservatives can be perfectly sure that in ways basic to the definition of conservatism -- involving judicial nominees, the proper role of government, taxes, and national defense -- a McCain presidency would look strikingly different from one ordered by either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama.

John McCain during his life has suffered a lot, personally and politically. But not only is he still standing -- he's striding. That kind of resiliency deserves electoral affirmation next week.

Read The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star: "McCain"

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Two For Tuesday

Editorial
Danville Register & Bee
February 8, 2008

... We support McCain in the Republican primary and Obama in the Democratic primary. They are not only the best of the current field, they have distinguished themselves in uniquely different ways.

McCain is a war hero, a distinguished conservative senator and a loyal Republican who stood by President Bush on the Iraq War. A year ago, McCain's support for the war was supposed to kill his candidacy. Today, it has underscored his loyalty -- and his military background.

Some Republicans don't like McCain because of his stands on taxes, immigration and campaign finance reform. But we believe he represents the best chance for the Republican Party to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in November. With the economy teetering, it may be a tough year for the GOP. But it will be impossible without this centrist, hard-working senator from Arizona at the top of the ticket.

Read The Danville Register & Bee: "Two For Tuesday"

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For President -- John McCain

Editorial
The Fairfax Times
Times Community Newspapers
February 7, 2008

Next Tuesday, Fairfax County and Virginia vote in Democratic and Republican party primaries toward a historic November election.

It is going to be a presidential election of extraordinary importance.

There are times in our history so very perilous that they cry out for a steady and experienced national leader, someone so trusted that we may feel absolutely confident to place the fate of the country in that person's hands to bring both national parties together for the common American cause, at home and abroad.

This is one of those times.

Among all the candidates of both parties, only Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain have demonstrated broad understanding of the issues and shown the vision to meet very large challenges ahead.

McCain, though, has a rare brand of national experience together with a courage and soul visibly forged by those years he spent, after his plane was shot down, as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and later by more than two decades boldly fighting for needed change on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

In this election campaign, during which most candidates have fashioned and then re-fashioned their "core" beliefs to fit the political winds, Sen. McCain shows a person of unswerving straight conviction and integrity. His values, his beliefs, his personal goals and principles were brutally tempered in war and have since been built and deeply tested in congressional service.

Consider these most essential issues now facing the country:

· John McCain's fundamental beliefs on domestic issues are founded upon his conviction that it is each person's basic responsibility to look after him or herself, and that the government's job is essentially to take care of those fairly needing help. On the current tough national economic situation, he remains a believer in the power of tax cuts and is the leader of a new growing band of both Democrats and Republicans determined to end wasteful spending in Washington.

· On foreign policy, McCain as president would clearly be best prepared to maintain a strong, secure nation respected around the world for honoring its commitments.

· On the tough Iraq War situation, the seasoned war and foreign policy expert said at the war's beginning that our attack to take down the brutality of Saddam Hussein as a threat to Middle East peace was the right thing to do, but that in launching the full Iraq War the Bush administration failed by having no plan to end it and bring peace to the region.

· On the now-hot current immigration issue, the senator advocates immigration reform both to safeguard our borders and to provide a just pathway to U.S. citizenship (not amnesty) for the 12 million illegal aliens now living here.

· McCain has long been far out front on both the global warming issue and on conservation of the nation's natural resources.

· On an issue of special concern to Virginia, McCain is a firm supporter of the country's right-to-work law guaranteeing that working people may choose whether or not to join a labor union and not be forced by a proposed new federal law that would require everyone to join and pay union dues to keep a job, which is supported by Sens. Obama and Clinton.

On all of the major national issues now confronting this country, McCain has shown time and again a now-urgently needed special capacity to reach across party lines to achieve consensus. He would lead us and return respect of America and its ideals throughout the world.

The Fairfax County Times endorses the election of Sen. John McCain to become our next president and commander-in-chief.

Read The Fairfax Times: "For President -- John McCain"

Appeared In 19 Times Community Newspapers: Annandale Times, Burke Times, Centreville Times, Chantilly Times, Clarke Times-Courier, Culpeper Times, Fairfax Times, Fairfax Station Times, Fauquier Times-Democrat, Fauquier Weekend, Gainesville Times, Great Falls Times, Herndon Times, Loudoun Times-Mirror, McLean Times, Rappahannock News, Reston Times, Springfield Times, Vienna Times